Common Behavior Problems
"Hyper" - Out of Control Behavior
Whether or not your dog is “hyper” depends partially
on what your expectations for his behavior are. If you want, or
were expecting the activity level of a Basset hound, and instead
your dog has the energy of a Dalmatian, you may conclude your dog
is “hyper”, even though her behavior is pretty typical
for her breed and age.
Many dogs need more exercise, playtime, social time and mental
stimulation than they get. There are dogs however, who no matter
how much of these activities you give them, they still have a difficult
time settling down.
If this is a problem for your dog, she may be overly reactive –
meaning it doesn’t take much for her to become very excited
and aroused – and at the same time, it may be difficult for
her to calm down once she is excited. Dogs with high reactivity
and long recovery times require very calm, very consistent training
techniques. Physical corrections and/or loud verbal reprimands tend
to excite them even more.
Rarely, dogs can have a medical condition known as hyperkinesis.
This is “hyperactive” behavior due to neurochemical
imbalances. Only your veterinarian can diagnosis this condition.
The proper medication, along with behavior modification, can successfully
manage this condition.
If your dog is just highly active and exuberant, meeting her behavioral
needs and providing the right
kind of training may be sufficient to resolve things.
Either way, we can set up a plan for you and your dog to get on
the road to happier times together. Schedule
a consultation with us. |